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Features
The ultimate guide to golf club shafts – Part 6: Shaft terminology explained

published: Jul 25, 2025

|

updated: Aug 18, 2025

The ultimate guide to golf club shafts – Part 6: Shaft terminology explained

Max McvittieLink

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We sometimes use affiliate links to products and services on retailer sites for which we can receive compensation if you click on those links or make purchases through them.

Golf club shafts can seem overly complicated to some golfers, so we sat down with the experts at KBS to explain the terminology behind one of the most important golf club components

Table of Contents

Jump to:

  • What does shaft flex really mean, and how is it categorised? 
  • How is torque measured in a shaft, and why does it matter? 
  • What is shaft weight and how does it affect swing performance? 
  • Can you explain the difference between frequency and flex? 
  • What does tip stiffness refer to, and how does it influence ball flight? 
  • How do the terms parallel tip and taper tip relate to club fitting? 
In association with KBS

Golf club shafts are a hugely important part of maximising performance throughout your golf bag. But, for many club golfers, terms like torque, shaft flex, or understanding shafts weights can feel like another language altogether. 

To help with this, we have sat down with the experts at KBS shaft to help get us all up to speed with golf club shaft lingo. Whether you’re a seasoned player looking to fine-tune your setup or just starting to explore custom fitting, this will help to give you a clearer understanding of the language behind one of golf’s most essential components.

What does shaft flex really mean, and how is it categorised? 

Shaft flex refers to how much a golf shaft bends during the swing, particularly at the transition and impact. It plays a crucial role in timing, ball flight, accuracy, and distance. If the flex doesn’t match your swing speed and tempo, you’re likely to see inconsistent results—even with a perfect swing. 

How is torque measured in a shaft, and why does it matter? 

Torque in a golf shaft refers to its resistance to twisting during the swing, particularly when the club is under load (e.g., during transition and impact). It’s measured in degrees (°) and represents how much the shaft twists when a force is applied—typically a standard weight at a certain distance from the shaft’s axis. It matters because it can affect every part of a fitting from feel and feedback; shot shape and dispersion; and launch and spin. 

What is shaft weight and how does it affect swing performance? 

Shaft weight refers to the total mass of the golf shaft, measured in grams (g). It typically ranges from: 

  • 35–65g for graphite (drivers, hybrids, irons) 
  • 85–130g for steel (mostly irons, some wedges) 

It’s one of the most critical fitting variables, influencing swing speed, tempo, ball flight, feel, and consistency. 

Can you explain the difference between frequency and flex? 

Frequency and flex are related concepts in golf shafts, but they are not the same, and understanding the difference can help you make much better equipment choices. 

Flex refers to the general stiffness of a shaft and how much it bends during the golf swing. 

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Frequency is a scientific measurement of shaft stiffness, usually measured in cycles per minute, CPM, using a frequency analyser. The shaft is clamped at one end and vibrated—how fast it vibrates tells you how stiff it is. 

Flex is a general label for stiffness. 
Frequency is the actual measurement of that stiffness. 
For precision and performance, especially for serious or improving golfers, frequency is the more reliable tool. 

What does tip stiffness refer to, and how does it influence ball flight? 

Tip stiffness refers to the flexibility of the lower (tip) section of a golf shaft—the part nearest the clubhead. It’s a key factor in determining how the shaft behaves during the downswing and at impact, especially in terms of launch angle, spin, and feel. 

It influences ball flight immensely. A stiffer tip will offer a more penetrating, flatter ball flight with more control and less ballooning effect, whilst a softer tip will provide a higher trajectory that is easier to launch with more carry distance.

How do the terms parallel tip and taper tip relate to club fitting? 

They refer to the shaft tip diameter and shape, and they play a key role in club fitting, shaft selection, and how a shaft performs in a clubhead. 

Club builders like parallel tip shafts for their flexibility—you can create a full set from one shaft model and adjust flex by trimming. 

Taper tip shafts are often preferred for precision builds, since each shaft is engineered to deliver ideal launch, spin, and feel for that specific club. 

• Created by renowned shaft designer Kim Braly and built from player feedback, KBS Golf Shafts offer the most advanced shaft technology in the industry. To learn more, click here.

• This piece is part of a special series on golf shaft technology. Read more here.

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About the author

Max Mcvittie

A bit of a late bloomer to the game of golf, Max fell in love with the sport when he attended Saturday coaching sessions down at his local golf club after being inspired by friends and family members.

Max has remained a member of Eden Golf Club in Carlisle for a number of years now as he looks to get his handicap down into single figures. Most of his golfing career has been spent battling a permanent slice off the tee, which has led to some ugly rounds.

Having studied at the University of Sunderland, Max is starting out his dream career in sports journalism. During his time at university, he picked up valuable work experience at Reach PLC, BBC Radio Cumbria and GiveMeSport, whilst also getting work published in the Teesside Live. He also spent time working at a local weekly newspaper, Eskdale and Liddesdale Advertiser, as a general news reporter partially covering some local sport just north of the border in Langholm.

Max has just started his journey with the NCG working as the assistant equipment editor. He looks forwarded to reviewing the latest golf equipment, taking up an interest in reviews when buying his first golf club, a Cleveland RTX wedge.

With his bag not going under too many changes throughout the last few years, Max carries an M3 driver, Titleist GT3 Fairway Wood, M2 hybrid, a set of M2 irons, Callaway Jaws wedges and a TaylorMade Spider putter. And yes, Max is a bit of a self-proclaimed TaylorMade fan boy.